The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-12-17

! polishing her poor, shabby boots and pre-
senting her with gay pictured pocket
handkerchief to carry in her hand; and he
had paid respects to the season by pinning
a few holly berries in the front of her thin,
| worn frock.
AS they entered the room she hung
back, clinging nervously to him, ana look
ing as scared as though she expected that
she was going to be beaten. Honor had
some difficulty in inducing her to loosen her
protectors hand and take the stool pro-
vided for her in warm corner near the
fire. When she at length sat down, she
shrank timidly against the WALL as though
only DESTROYS to escape notice.
All felt that little Annie needed sympa-
thy and kindness more than did any guest
there, if tho soul were to be kept much
longer in the great, mournful eyes. Most
pitiful Of all was the old look in the pinched,
white face. She seemed to regard US with
kind of calm indulgence, as grown-up
children, playing at life, which she had
long seen the sad reality of.
| All went well and with music and chat
ting the time was spent very happily until
nine O'Clock Then, before the queer COM
pany was seated around the table, Honor
| proposed that each one relate the history
| of the happiest moment of his life.
| The happiest momentl There was a puZ-
zled, half doubtful expression in some of
the faces as thought travelled back into the
past; but it presently disappeared and ths 8
was a smile more or less expansive Eponl
every ones face. Even the poor lodger had
a reticent smile upon his lips as he tnrned
his eyes meditatively toward the fire.
Johnny led off. He admit ed without
shame that the happiest moment OF his life
| was when he was invited to the party, and
Sally had assured him that there would be
all the turkey, mince pie and pudding that
he could eat. His mother blushed over his
| very materialietic idea of happiness. Her
own story was this: ~ think the very
happiest moment | have ever had was when
the manager at the warehouse promised to
| give me shilling dozen extra for making
the shirts, for,' she added, looking around,
with deprecatory little smile, as though
to apologize for the LONELINESS of the cause
of her happy moment, 'growing boys are
almost always hungry"
Mrs. Parnell, when called upon to relate
her story, coughed meditatively behind her
fan for IA moment or two and then gracious
ly said that tile happest moment of her
life was when she danced with Lord Lang
land at the tenantry ball. when she was
| just eighteen.
| Grace Fairlie and Honor had some diff
Guilty in keeping their countenGnces as they
exchanged glances. Even the ''poorlodger''
was evincing some signs of having once
known how to laugh. But the others ap-
peared sufficiently impressed to satisfy
Mrs. Parnell, had she any misgivings upon
the point She was gazing complacently
into the fire. She had simply related a
| fact, and was too much absorbed in the
| pleasant recollectons it had called up to
notice any ones face.
Old Mamie thought the greatest amount
| OF bliss she ever experienced was when she
! outWltted the poor guardians and got her
"'loWance out stead of going into the
house" The old soldier described how a
feeling that his mother was near him pull
ing him away from trench during battle,
gave him his happest moment, because
Just as he was fairly out shell burst in
the trench, and he knew that he had been
saved from certain death by the watchful
spirit of his dead mother
But why didn't you have another dream
to tell you to put your leg out of the way
when the bullet was comingln asked john
ny.
Il chose to take it into the way, my lad.
somewhat absently replied James Brooks:
| 'pcSlue5 UHdL ulu me no nuEL"
mo hurt to be shot?"
'Well, my boy, there's different ways Of
being hurt, as perhaps you'll find out as you
get older. I'd had my lesson, you see, and
didn't need to be taught over again.
But amt you going to tell US how you
got the bullet in your leg!n persisted John
ny. you didn't have that through the
dream?"
"Well, got shot while was fetching
out q young" -. He paused ruff1ng VI
his scanty hair, But l am no hand al
telling them sort of things. 1t isn't for me
to say why Pm d bit proud of the bullet
carry about with me, ladies and gentlemen.
Perhaps it viii be enough if l say that il
brought me this" touching the cross upon
his breast and rather shyly adding: '1i
was French officer that was saved an
only sonn - here he gdZed afar off dream
lily, and cut short his story.
The poor lodger," when asked to tell his
story, begged to be excused for little
longer, and gave way 10 Sally, who, after
some slammering, said in high delight
glancing shyly around:
1T was last night, then. He met me
fetching the supper beer, and he said he'C
got enough saved for tidy bit of furni
ture, and a Ii tie put by for rainy day, a:
well as regular work, so there was no cal
to wait"
Everybody congratulated Sally, and Aun
Margaret said that he ought to have beer
invited, at which, amidst a merry laugh
from all, Sally, with a very red face said
HE isn't so fur off as he couldn't be founc
by supper time, if you please, ma'am. HI
said something about being somewhat
handy, to see if ne could be of any use il
bringing up the trays and such like"
The Ii tie tailor, Mr.. PEBBLES, was ther
called upon to tell his story. "Weil, if
must, l must" he SAID, "but Pm afraid i
will make the missus bit vain when tel
the company that my happiest moment was
that night when we was 'scroughing' o SCI
the ''luminations,' and she said she'(
sooner deal have me to take care Of hel
than Steve Jackson, for Steve was well-to
do in the world-set up for himself, with
horse and cart and all complete In tn,
green-grocery line, a master man. He wa:
better figure Of man to look at, too, fo
it's no use my trying to make believe as
was ever so handsome as she thought me. ;
Mrs. PEBBLES was next asked tc speak
just then Sally beckoned Honor out of tn,
room, and when she re-entered, which sh
did before Mrs. PEBBLES began to tall:
there was look on her face telling tina
somei hing unusual had happened. She pu
her hand on the back OF chair, as ii Il
: steady herself, and said: "Mrs. PEBBLES,